Fort Worth Injury Attorney Blog

Riding season is finally here and motorcycles are hitting the streets of North Texas. Unfortunately that also means there will be an increase in motorcycle accidents.

I'm currently representing several men who were seriously injured while riding. One case is going to trial soon. Fighting for the rights of motorcycle riders is one of the only areas of law I practice and I've been doing this for over 33 years. Since May is national Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, I wanted to discuss this serious topic and give some tips to motorcycle riders on what they should do if they are involved in a crash.

This could easily happen. In Texas 460 lives were lost and in the U.S. 4,612 people were killed as the result of motorcycle accidents. That's a horrible statistic.

What should you do if you're involved in a motorcycle accident?

Continue reading "Texas Motorcycle Crashes: Top 10 Things To Do " »

Five people were killed in motorcycle crashes just in the last two days -- and just in Fort Worth. Carlius Johnson, Lylian Berry, Jr., Shymill Murphy, Jeremy Williamson, and Noemi Mendoza tragically lost their lives. My thoughts go out to the families of the deceased.

I've represented many motorcycle riders and their families over the past 33 years. I've ridden motorcycles. I understand the dangers riding on roads, have taken depositions and tried cases against auto and truck drivers, and know how to get the maximum amount of money for these injury cases.

Continue reading "Texas Motorcycle Accidents: Deadly and Frequent" »

Texas legislators meeting in Austin are considering several bills that target unsafeTexas drivers. That's certainly good news. Our roads are extremely deadly and I support efforts to make them safer.

The first new state law would force drivers convicted due to dangerously high blood alcohol contents to have devices installed in their cars to test their breath. However state probation officers say they are already overworked and don't have time to enforce this law if it passes. But as someone who has had to represent far too many people injured in DWI crashes we need to keep these drivers off of our highways.

Continue reading "New Laws Proposed To Make Texas Roads Safer" »

I just negotiated a maximum settlement -- the full insurance policy limits -- for a nice young man who sustained minor injuries in a motorcycle accident.

He was lucky. The U.S. government just released a report today that bike crashes are increasingly deadly. Motorcycle riders were 30 times more likely to die in a crash than other drivers. There were 4,502 deaths and 82,000 people injured just in 2010.These accidents cost $16 billion that year, not counting future medical care. Wow.

Continue reading "Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Case Successfully Settled Today" »

I wanted to wish every one a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

I will pause to thank God for my blessings, be with my wonderful family, see some movies and football games and exercise. And my birthday is Friday (how did I ever get to be 58?).
But unfortunately driving during the holidays can be dangerous.

Continue reading "Happy Thanksgiving And Safe Driving" »

The Dallas Morning News reported the following stories about how many people are being killed in auto and truck wrecks -- just in the last 24 hours -- that make you cringe:

1. Tim Parks was found guilty of intoxication manslaughter yesterday for running over Roy Salinas, 35, on his motor scooter last June. Roy worked in finance and marketing, was an avid motor scooter enthusiast, cyclist, and runner, and a nice man.

Parks, a wine taster, waiter and manager at several top restaurants, admitted to jurors that he has a drinking problem. Really? His blood alcohol content was a staggering .22, with the

Continue reading "Dallas Roads Deadly" »

As a North Texas personal injury lawyer who has represented seriously injured motorists, motorcycle riders, and bicycle riders over the past 32 years -- and as an occasional bike rider -- I was dismayed by last week's decision by the plaintiff-hating Texas Supreme Court. I have written about the biased decisions of our Court on many occasions, so I am not surprised by its latest business-sided ruling, but I wanted to call it to your attention.

In City of Denton v. Paper, 11-0596, the court held that a North Texas woman who suffered major injuries when her bicycle's front wheel unexpectedly fell into a large hole in the road and caused her to crash was not entitled to receive any money. The court reversed the trial judge and the Fort Worth Court of Appeals, which had denied the City of Denton's motion for

Continue reading "Texas Injuries Just Got Even Harder To Pursue " »

Here's a grusome celebrity story: Michael "Cactus" Moser was riding a motorcycle on U.S. Highway 16 in the Black Hills of South Dakota on Saturday when he crossed the center line and hit a car.

He was airlifted to a hospital, where doctors amputated his leg above his knee. Moser also had surgery on his hand.

Continue reading "Wynonna Judd's husband loses leg in motorcycle crash" »

The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) is trying to make our streets safer with its second annual Share the Road campaign.

Last year our state had an alarming 470 motorcycle fatalities -- 40 more than in 2010. Half were caused by drivers overlooking the bike rider.

I have handled plenty of these cases over the last 31 years and have owned a motorcycle (ok, it was back in the mid 70's when I was a student at UT, but in the past few years have ridden a racing bicycle) so I am sensitive to cylists' injuries.

In 2011 I handled 10 motorcycle crashes - fortunately only one involved a death, where I successfully represented the widow of a wonderful man who died three weeks after his Harley was hit by a doctor in a BMW. All of my clients received large settlements and were extremely happy. Half got the maximum money that was available from both the other driver's policy and their Underinsured Motorists and Personal Injury Protection policies!

Continue reading "Fort Worth Motorcycle Accidents May Decrease With TXDOT Help" »

Driving a car is such a potentially dangerous - even deadly - activity that it never ceases to amaze me how negligent people often are when they get behind the wheel. As an accident and injury lawyer, I probably have seen just about every way a person can crash into another vehicle over the past 31 years, so I thought I would share a few friendly reminders on how you can keep away from the ER -- and my office when the other driver's insurance company refuses to pay you for your damages.

Continue reading "10 Ways To Avoid A Car Wreck" »

Texas is a ridiculously dangerous place to drive.

In Texas in 2010, car and truck wrecks injured and killed the following people.

Continue reading "Deaths and Injuries In Texas Traffic Collisions Excessive " »

A drunken driving suspect, 18 year old Joshua Reyes, crashed into a poor guy riding his motorcycle in University Park early Sunday morning.

Danny Ray Viola, 56, of Dallas was southbound on Preston Road at 12:40 a.m. when he collided with a speeding Honda Civic that ran the light at University Boulevard.

Viola was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Reyes (see photo) was taken into custody on a charge of intoxication manslaughter.

This story really makes me angry.

I hate drunk drivers. And don't drink much alcohol. And sympathize with law abiding motorcyclists and bicyclists. And my only child goes to SMU and lived in a dorm a block from the scene for two years. And I spent three years studying at SMU Law School a block in the other direction.

There has to be a way to crack down on the wide spread culture of drinking and driving, especially when it kills innocent drivers. I have had to handle far too many DWI cases over the last 31 years.

A Dallas man was critically injured Sunday night when he was struck on his bicycle while riding on West Euless Boulevard by a drunken driving suspect.

Anthony Jamal Miles, 24, remains in very critical condition at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Anthony, my prayers are with you.

Earlier this week, Euless police released a photo of Anthony in his hospital bed in hopes that someone would recognize him, as he was carrying no identification.

The driver was identified as Bryany Ruth Hildreth, 30. She was arrested on a charge of intoxication assault and was released on $10,000 bail.

This absolutely sickens me.

As you know, I hate drunk drivers and go after them with a passion. I am proud to be one of the few approved attorneys on MADD's list in Tarrant County.

I have successfully prosecuted many cycling cases, including finalizing a case a few months ago where a wonderful Fort Worth woman, Donna, was hit while she was riding on the shoulder near Boswelll High School and fractured her hip.

I have ridden my road bicycle to stay in shape and have completed some 100 milers, including the notorious Hotter 'N Hell a few years ago. I have owned a motorcyle. I know how dangerous it is for cyclists out there.

Note to cyclists: Please ride VERY carefully. Please do not ride at night. Please stay off of busy roads. Please do not ride by yourselves. Please wear bright clothing and reflective gear. Please carry ID and notify your family where you are riding.

If you need legal assistance with handling your motorcycle or bicycle injury case in North Texas, please contact me at 817-885-8000 or use the form at the top of the page to e-mail my office for a free case evaluation. Click here to read a client survey from a very satisfied injured in a bicycle collision.

I call on the protesters across America to focus on some of the worse abusers of power: insurance companies.

Legislators do nothing to control them. Yet they routinely rip off thousands of people damaged in motor vehicle collisions --and brazenly pocket billions of dollars they collect from their policyholders when they refuse to pay claims.

The Dallas Morning News investigated this problem in the article on its front page yesterday. Its reporter talked to the leading state official in charge of policing the insurance companies, House Insurance Committee Chairman John Smithee, R-Amarillo. He claimed he had growing concerns about certain insurers who regularly refuse to pay claims in which their policyholders are at fault. "I get calls about this all the time," he admitted.

So why doesn't he/the Legislature do something to stop these rampant abuses?

Why was Old American County Mutual Insurance Company allowed to illegally rescind hundreds of auto policies from 2005 - 2009 after claims were filed and not pay any money to injured drivers, even though hundreds of complaints were filed with TDI?

Continue reading "Occupy Insurance Companies!" »

I am delighted that my clients are "very pleased" with my legal services.

In October, 11 clients filled out surveys reporting they were "very pleased" with their results and treatment and would recommend me to others needing legal assistance.

In September, 11 people all had 100% positive comments about their experiences.

In August, 12 clients said they were very glad they had hired my law firm.

We have had well over 100 clients fill out these surveysthis year -- and all had nice things to say.

As I've said it before, I am blessed to have the greatest clients any where.

I believe in the Golden Rule and always ask how I would want to be treated by my attorney -- then do everything I can to make sure my clients are happy. I fight to make sure my clients are well compensated for their injuries.

If you are shopping around for the best attorney to represent you in a collision case, first see what others who have used my services have to say. You will be equally pleased. I guarantee it.